Acquiring the Skills

As I previously stated elsewhere on the forums, I am not a military man. Thanks to a Blessing I've had from birth, they won't even have me for the draft (though I registered anyway). However, as a child--before I was aware of the limitations placed on someone with my Blessing--my dream was to become either a part of the U.S. Navy SEALs or a Marine Corps Scout Sniper.

Due to that dream, I began studying survival techniques, martial arts, marksmanship, unconventional combat (i.e., with a bow and arrow), and the like from a young age. My "resume" includes a fair knowledge of survival skills I picked up in the Boy Scouts (namely first aid, orienteering, and emergency preparedness).

Despite all of that, I am nowhere near as prepared as I would like to be, and feel that if I were caught in a survival situation, I would be "dead weight" to any group of folks I ended up with. I'm also not comfortable that I would survive well on my own.

What options does a fellow such as myself have to acquire the skills necessary to survive in any given situation? I know of a few resources I could tap into to learn something, but it's somewhat overwhelming and I'm not sure where to begin.

Any advice would be appreciated.

There's several good schools around the country that teach survival skills. Tom Brown Jrs tracker school in NJ, Boulder outdoor survival school in Colorado just to name 2.
Im not sure why you would consider yourself deade weight with any group given what you say you;ve studied. Most people can't even start a fire when it's dry.
There's many good books on the subject as well depending on what skills you feel deficient in - Shelter making? Fire making? Wild edible plants etc.
I'm hoping this spring to host a gathering of people that want to learn survival skills here in the mountains of Va. Several folks have already responded and the idea is for all of us to share what we know.
I have been teaching these skills for 20 years now and I know what you mean about never having felt like you know enough, there's many skills to master and there is an art to every one of them.
So what is it that you wish to learn and please be specific, maybe I can point you in the right direction.

reply to post by Beinion


Might want to see if you can get on with a local search and rescue team or try the forest department... they train their wildlands firefighters in survival techniques too ya know...

Not only will you be learning the skills you seek you'll be of service to the community and getting a paycheck too


good luck with that

reply to post by Asktheanimals


Thank you, DaddyBare, for the insight.

Asktheanimals:

I'd like to be more prepared when it comes to living through disaster situations. I'm admittedly ignorant when it comes to what I can do in any given situation (i.e., car wreck, plane crash, hostage situation, explosion, fire, etc.) to get out alive and not be a nervous wreck so that I can help others.

One time, I remember that I got lost in the woods. Instead of remembering my orienteering, I lost myself mentally, and ended up wandering around the woods for a few more hours than I would have needed to.

So I suppose what I'm looking for is a course that will "teach me the ropes" of emergency preparedness; the merit badge class I took was great for the Boy Scouts, but I'd like to be able to "run with the big dogs", as it were.

reply to post by Beinion


Okay then, I got a coupla books for you:

WHen Technology Fails by Matthew Stein. This is an encyclopedia of survival skills and contains hundreds of books and website references. Cover alternative energy, farming, first aid, blacksmithing, herbalism, textiles. etc. A must have for the survival library. While not in depth on any one subject it will point you in the right way.

Field guide to wilderness survival by Tom Brown Jr. -while somewhat rudimentary this is still probably the best book on outdoor survival out there.

Bushcraft by Mors Kochansky. This is the ONLY book that covers knife, axe and saw care and use. Also covers survival skills for nothern arboreal forests.

Wild Edible PLants/Peterson Field Guide by Lee Peterson. The only book I trust on edible wild plants for food. While I have many others most contain one or more mistakes so this is the only one I can recommend without resevervation.

Aside from skills it sounds like you need to get out and challenge yourself physically. Go wander in the forest, play some paintball, go camping and canoeing, whatever gets you outside.

Good luck!

[edit on 13-3-2010 by Asktheanimals]

Also, you may want to see if there are any C.E.R.T. teams in your area. (Citizen Emergenccy Response Teams). They offer training and practical excercises in emergency/disaster response. www.citizencorps.gov...
Hope this helps.

Experience

Experience

Experience

I can only echo what ATA has already said. Get outside and get some experience, read as much as you can and then go out and practice it.

What one learns in the military can be learned on your own. It will not be as intense, but it can be done.

After the Marines, I did not quit. Climbing, Canoeing and Kayaking, Camping and Extreme Hiking.. etc..

While I will not say I have ever learned as much personally as I did in say.. Mountain Warfare School, or JEST... I have learned a lot just being on my own for extended periods in different areas of wilderness.

"Read and Go Do" should be any person's by-line that is concerned about survival.

Semper

Thank you all for the invaluable advice and resources. Once I get off these "peglegs" (crutches) come April, I'll be doing more and reading less. Until then, I've got time to go to the library and see what I can find in the way of those books ATA recommended.

You could see if your county has a civillian search and rescue team that you could take a course from. My county offers one 3 times a year thru the sheriffs dept. Also any first responder courses would be invaluable. Look into community colleges for basic nursing, EMT, or paramedic courses. Just because you take the course doesnt mean you have to be in the career

what is your "blessing" and why would you be considered "dead weight"?

[edit on 17-3-2010 by zaiger]

Volunteer fire and rescue. They'll train you in all sorts of things for free if youre serious about it.

Originally posted by zaiger
what is your "blessing" and why would you be considered "dead weight"?

[edit on 17-3-2010 by zaiger]

I was born with spina bifida, and although I have the worst form of it, I can walk (albeit with tibial torsion). As for "dead weight", I feel that because I've never been formally trained on survival techniques by anyone more serious than the Boy Scouts of America. That doesn't stack up well next to, say, the U.S. Army Rangers or the U.S.M.C.